A Catholic Homeschooling mom of 5 who would like to be a witness to the world. I am passionate about my Faith, family, and homeschooling. I'm not perfect but I try to be the best person I can be.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Words of Encouragement

I found this passage of the Catechism of the Catholic Church particularly encouraging.

St. Leo I, Pope
and Doctor of the Church,
ruled 440-461

"But why did God not prevent the first man from sinning? St. Leo the Great responds, "Christ's inexpressible grace gave us blessings better than those the demon's envy had taken away." [St. Leo the Great,Sermo 73, 4: Patrologia Latina 54, 3396] And St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, "There is nothing to prevent human nature's being raised up to something greater, even after sin; God permits evil in order to draw forth some greater good. Thus St. Paul says, 'Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more'; and the Exultet sings, 'O happy fault,...which gained for us so great a Redeemer!" [St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica III, 1,3, ad 3; cf. Rom. 5:20] (CCC 412)

Many people ask why, if there is a God, He permits evil to exist. Here's your answer. We have even more blessings, because of Christ's grace, than we would have had had the Fall not taken place. God draws the greater good despite the existence of evil. I found this answer profoundly timely. I hope this answer is as encouraging to others as it is to me.

St. Walburga's Search

The Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Chaplet

This meditative prayer may be prayed using an ordinary rosary. It is normally said at 3pm daily, the traditional time of death of Jesus on the cross, but can be prayed anytime.

Begin with:

Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles Creed.

Next, on the 'Our Father' beads, say:

"Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world."

On the 10 'Hail Mary' beads, say:

"For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

Repeat the previous 2 steps until you've completed all five 'decades.'

Then say this prayer 3 times:

"Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

End with:

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."

The Blessed Virgin Mary

Our Lady of Grace

The Memorae

Remember, O most compassionate virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your assistance, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly to you, O virgin of virgins, Our Mother; to you we come, before you we kneel sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate despise not out petitions, but in your clemency, hear and answer them.

Amen

St. Walburga

Tapestry image of St. Walburga - Feast Day, February 25th

Prayer to St. Walburga

St. Walburga,

By your blessed life of love, God blessed you with the power to heal, to make whole the soul as well as the body. Beg for us what we cannot obtain for ourselves, and heal our world of sickness and sorrow. May God hear you, who lived so graciously for His glory, and send us the healing grace we need, through your powerful intercession.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.